Treating And Preventing Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy

Spinal Cord Stimulation Devices

Spinal cord stimulation devices are used in a type of therapy called spinal cord stimulation. This therapeutic method helps to mask the body's pain signals before they're able to reach the brain. The device is small and bears similarities to a pacemaker. It is surgically implanted into the body and delivers electric pulses to a person's spinal cord. This helps individuals with chronic pain manage their symptoms, decreasing the need for opioid medication.

These devices are typically used for reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome patients with chronic arm, leg, or back pain who have not had their symptoms relieved by other methods. When the device is turned on, it stimulates the nerves found in whatever area you feel pain. This causes a reduction in pain due to the modification and masking of pain signals through the electrical pulses.

Gradual Exercise

Gradual exercise is a good option to prevent contractures. A contracture occurs when there is constriction or stiffness with the body's connective tissues. This might happen in the skin, ligaments, tendons, and muscles. With reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome, contractures are most commonly found in the tendons and muscles. They can increase the pain a patient feels.

Many doctors will recommend gentle exercise to help keep the muscles stimulated and prevent atrophy. It's important to note, however, that exercise won't be manageable for everyone. In certain conditions where the pain is too great, patients may become exhausted by exercise. Individuals are more likely to have success with exercise when they're in the early stages of the disease, rather than the later ones.